NEW SALEM — Town meeting voters will be asked to double how much they pay for ambulance service to help offset years of underpaying.
Town Coordinator Nancy Aldrich said the town gets its ambulance service from Orange Fire Rescue EMS. Orange Chief James Young explained the towns in the ambulance service’s jurisdiction have historically paid on a per-capita basis, though there is discussion about changing that system to one based on how much it costs Orange to respond to calls in a particular town.
Town meeting is scheduled to take place beginning at 7 p.m. in Town Hall on June 6 and June 7.
Orange Town Administrator Diana Schindler said the current ambulance cost is based on population, with a town charged $11 per person for the ambulance service. Aldrich said the proposed spending is up from $12,000 to $24,000 for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. She said town officials believe this number is more fair. A new formula will likely be cemented in the future.
The town’s proposed operating budget is $2,779,890, which is $84,582 higher than this year’s budget. Aldrich said New Salem officials have met with Orange about how to remedy years of paying less than the service actually costs Orange and agreed the proposed spending increase is a proper start.
Young said Orange Fire Rescue EMS covers approximately 100 square miles that includes Orange, New Salem, Wendell, Warwick and roughly half of Erving. He said all his firefighters also serve as EMTs or paramedics. Orange has one of the three full-time fire departments in Franklin County. The others are in Greenfield and Turners Falls.
New Salem’s proposed spending for Franklin County Technical School is $35,648, down from $52,500 this year. Aldrich said this drop is due to a decrease in enrollment at the school.
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